Image from: http://www.ga.gov.au/webtemp/image_cache/GA13998.gif
Although seismic activity has been minimal, there are several active sites within South Australia where the potential for future seismic activity is quite likely.
Fault lines such as; the Para Fault Zone, Hope Valley Fault Zone, Eden-Burnside Fault Zone, Clarendon Fault Zone, Crafers Fault Zone and finally the Willunga Fault Zone. These breaks in the continental crust all have the potential for earthquake activity, some with more potential than others. As each fault zone cuts through different types of geological materials, it can be quite easy to determine the risk level of damage should an earthquake occur nearby. For example, fault lines that run through softer materials such as river sediments or sandy soils will feel a greater intensity than if the fault was running through granitic materials as the loose sandy soils or sediments will move more.
Image from: https://cooberpedyregionaltimes.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/quakefault.png?w=640
Para Fault: Runs from Glenelg, past Elizabeth and through to Gawler. Runs a sinuous passage through Pre-Cambrian/Quaternary geological materials such as the saddleworth formation and calcareous silt. Considered to be reasonably active.
Hope Valley Fault Zone: Relatively small when compared against faults such as the Para fault or Willunga, runs from Parkside to Hope Valley in between the Para and Eden-Burnside faults. Cuts straight through Quaternary materials such as sandy clays, marl, limestone and meta sediments. This fault zone is believed to be inactive, if remaining at all.
Eden-Burnside Fault Zone: Running from Seacliff through to Upper Hermitage, it has a bent shape and cuts through Quaternary/Proterozoic materials such as siltstone, quartz and dolomite with sandy clays around the hills. Eden-Burnside fault zone could potentially be active, but hasn’t had any seismic activity for a long time.
Clarendon Fault Zone: Runs a straight passage from Maslin Beach to Belair, it cuts through Pliocene materials like iron cemented bedrock, sandstone, alluvial clays, laminated siltstones. Like the Eden-Burnside fault zone, the Clarendon zone has the potential to be an active site for earthquakes but hasn’t been subject to seismic activity for a very long time.
Crafers Fault Zone: Running from Crafers through to Lobethal, the Crafers fault zone runs sinuously through Proterozoic (Torrensian) materials such as siltstone, quartz, dolomite, gneiss and schist. This zone is viewed as inactive now.
Willunga Fault Zone: Starting at Sellicks Beach and travelling through to …………. the Willunga fault is slightly sinuous as it runs through Upper Proterozoic materials like silt, sand, gravel, quartz, dolomite, calcrete, sandy clay and limestone. It is potentially active.
Image from: http://www.quakes.uq.edu.au/html/quake_info/images/Australia_topo.jpg
While the geological matter is a often the most appropriate and useful indicator of determining the potential danger and damage of an earthquake in certain areas, it must be remembered that the physical shaking of the Earth is not always the only cause of damage. Landslides are a common occurrence in the aftermath of an earthquake, especially in areas of unstable or loose soil and can wipe out infrastructure in the area. Another potential danger in the aftermath of earthquakes is in areas where water-saturated sediments are present under the surface. With magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes, liquefaction is highly likely as the shaking causes the sediments to become quicksand and flow which can lead to the softening of the ground and possible collapse of buildings or even in some cases see the sediment erupt at fountains or craters.
Image from: http://www.ce.washington.edu/~liquefaction/selectpiclique/sandboils/sandboil1.jpg
Earthquakes Among us 
